Pope: Saints of Year for Priests, to understand the value of mission in the Church
and world
(August 3, 2009) The Year priesthood is "a valuable opportunity to deepen the importance of the mission of priests in the Church and the world," said Pope Benedict XVI at the Sunday Angelus on the 2nd of August at his Summer Residence at Castel Gandolfo. The Pontiff returned to the theme of the value of the Year for Priests launched in June to renew the mission and the contemplation of Catholic priests. He gave his reflections on the saints whose feasts are celebrated in early August and who are models of spirituality and priestly dedication. The Pope said that August 1st was the memorial of St. Alphonsus Maria de 'Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church, a great teacher of moral theology and a model of virtue and pastoral dedication and always attentive to the religious needs of people. On August 2nd was the celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi whose ardent love for the salvation of souls, which every priest must constantly nurture.” He recounted the 'Pardon of Assisi', which Francis obtained from Pope Honorius III in 1216, after having had a vision, where Francis begged for a 'broad and generous pardon' for all those who 'repented and confessed' visited the church of the Porziuncola. Since then, from noon on August 1st to midnight on the 2nd, a Christian can gain, according to the usual conditions, a plenary indulgence for the dead, by visiting a Franciscan church or parish. The pope also stressed the role of John Mary Vianney, the holy Curé of Ars, and a model for priests in this special year whose 150th anniversary of his death is commemorated on the 4th of August. He was a humble parish priest, a model of priestly life not only for parish priests but for all priests, said the Holy Father. He also referred to the feasts of St. Cajetan of Thiene on August 7, and St Dominic on August 8. Finally, the Pope referred to the example of humanity and priestly life of Pope Montini, Pope Paul VI, whose 31st death anniversary is on August 6th.
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